Happy Birthday, Stinky!
My boy is turning 11. He had a slumber party on Saturday night... not that there was much slumber involved. Two of his friends spent the night. They enjoyed playing his new Lego Star Wars game on the PS2, and took turns sitting in his new X-Rocker. They also started to construct a moonwalker robot and built with his PixelBlocks. One of his friends brought a movie & snack pack which they shared too.
The chair is really cool!! There are speakers in the headrest, and a subwoofer in the backrest. And it is soooo comfortable. If I ever get a chance I want to get hooked up and watch Independence Day!
A friend of ours took him to the skate park near Bear Creek Elementary. He had a great time. And he said our friend can skate pretty well... for an old guy. (LOL)
My Grandpa gave him his copy of Jane's American Fighting Ships of the 20th Century... complete with notations of the ships he worked on while he was in the Navy (around and during WWII, in the Pacific). He received other books too: a "Get Fuzzy" comic book, Homecoming, Magic Science, Wizardology, and Elementary Algebra.
Yeah, he's a nerd. But I love him. Happy Birthday, kiddo!!
Monday, September 25
Friday, September 22
OHSU
In a nutshell... after one of the least fun days ever, the diagnosis for Boo is:
Juvenile Recurrent Parotitis
So... no surgery (which is a good thing). But note the word "recurrent" is in there so looks like we will be managing this with her... possibly for the rest of her life though some kids just grow out of it. The Doc from OHSU is hoping that the ENT here will be able to manage this with us so we don't have to go to Portland every time.
The morning started off pretty low key. Since Boo had an MRI with sedation on her itinerary, she had to get up and eat breakfast at 5am (then she went back to sleep for a while). After a thrilling drive to OHSU (in rush hour traffic) we arrived a little early so there was time for Boo to hang out and play in the waiting room. There was a really neat fish tank, with a "Nemo" fish. The visit with the Doc was unremarkable - she was very interested to see the results of the MRI.
After that we had almost 2 hours to burn before it was time to check in for her MRI. We went down to the cafeteria in the OHSU main building. (Which means we went up, across the skybridge, and back down...) Boo could have "clear liquids and jello" until about 9:30 so she got to have a snack. We found they were having a book fair, so visited that for a while.
Then it was time to find the MRI area. We got checked in, and then waited. The waiting room was small, and not nearly as nice as the one at Doernbecher. She entertained herself with a Scooby-Doo drawing set I bought her at the book fair.
Then a nurse put some "numbing cream" on Boo's hands and arms then covered them with bandages. She looked like a mummy. And then we waited some more.
Then a different nurse came to put in Boo's IV. So began the drama. She sat on her dad's lap, and squeezed my hand while the nurse put the IV in her other hand. And she screamed. It was heartbreaking and sad. Then we waited again.
Boo wanted to go for a walk, and we found a private waiting area with a TV so she got to watch Sponge Bob for a while. Then it was time for her sedation, and the MRI... during which we just had to wait some more.
She was sedated for almost two hours. When it was finally time to wake her up - well it was tough. When she finally opened her eyes she was very lethargic, and it took her a long time to be able to sit up. And when she finally did, she didn't want any water, or juice, or anything. Finally she drank some juice, so the nurse would let her get dressed and leave. They gave us a wheel chair for her and she rode back to the car in style.
So... a very long day.
Juvenile Recurrent Parotitis
So... no surgery (which is a good thing). But note the word "recurrent" is in there so looks like we will be managing this with her... possibly for the rest of her life though some kids just grow out of it. The Doc from OHSU is hoping that the ENT here will be able to manage this with us so we don't have to go to Portland every time.
The morning started off pretty low key. Since Boo had an MRI with sedation on her itinerary, she had to get up and eat breakfast at 5am (then she went back to sleep for a while). After a thrilling drive to OHSU (in rush hour traffic) we arrived a little early so there was time for Boo to hang out and play in the waiting room. There was a really neat fish tank, with a "Nemo" fish. The visit with the Doc was unremarkable - she was very interested to see the results of the MRI.
After that we had almost 2 hours to burn before it was time to check in for her MRI. We went down to the cafeteria in the OHSU main building. (Which means we went up, across the skybridge, and back down...) Boo could have "clear liquids and jello" until about 9:30 so she got to have a snack. We found they were having a book fair, so visited that for a while.
Then it was time to find the MRI area. We got checked in, and then waited. The waiting room was small, and not nearly as nice as the one at Doernbecher. She entertained herself with a Scooby-Doo drawing set I bought her at the book fair.
Then a nurse put some "numbing cream" on Boo's hands and arms then covered them with bandages. She looked like a mummy. And then we waited some more.
Then a different nurse came to put in Boo's IV. So began the drama. She sat on her dad's lap, and squeezed my hand while the nurse put the IV in her other hand. And she screamed. It was heartbreaking and sad. Then we waited again.
Boo wanted to go for a walk, and we found a private waiting area with a TV so she got to watch Sponge Bob for a while. Then it was time for her sedation, and the MRI... during which we just had to wait some more.
She was sedated for almost two hours. When it was finally time to wake her up - well it was tough. When she finally opened her eyes she was very lethargic, and it took her a long time to be able to sit up. And when she finally did, she didn't want any water, or juice, or anything. Finally she drank some juice, so the nurse would let her get dressed and leave. They gave us a wheel chair for her and she rode back to the car in style.
So... a very long day.
Tuesday, September 19
Irritated
We have a DVR, and it's set to record favorite shows. Including the Gilmore Girls. I just settled in on the couch to watch tonight's recording (a past episode I missed). Instead of an hour of banter and pop culture references I got an hour of:
This has to be the most obnoxious, irritating thing I have ever seen. If you don't carry a channel... don't put it on the effing channel guide!
Their website carries the following "update":
Negotiations have been underway for several WEEKS? Umm... didn't they announce the merger of UPN and WB, and the new network branding (CW) back in January?
Thanks again, BendBroadband!! I just hope they manage to "negotiate mutually agreeable terms" by the time the new season of Gilmore Girls begins...
This has to be the most obnoxious, irritating thing I have ever seen. If you don't carry a channel... don't put it on the effing channel guide!
Their website carries the following "update":
Channel 15 Update
The WB Network concluded its final day of broadcasting on 9/17.
We understand and appreciate that the CW channel is important to a number of our cable TV subscribers and it is our desire to provide this new channel. Efforts to negotiate mutually agreeable contract terms for carriage of The CW have been under way for several weeks now and are ongoing at this time. Until a contract is in place for carriage, we are unable to air this programming. When, and if, a contract is signed, we will move as quickly as possible to put The CW on the air.
We thank you for your understanding and patience in this matter.
Negotiations have been underway for several WEEKS? Umm... didn't they announce the merger of UPN and WB, and the new network branding (CW) back in January?
Thanks again, BendBroadband!! I just hope they manage to "negotiate mutually agreeable terms" by the time the new season of Gilmore Girls begins...
iTunes
If you have an iTunes account, check out the Million Hit Lowdown section in the iTunes store. Currently they are offering one million FREE downloads of last season's finales for Lost, Desperate Housewives, and Grey's Anatomy.
(Yes... you know I am downloading Lost...)
Lucky... now you gotta visit us in Bend so we can watch it on my big beautiful Mac screen... ;)
(Yes... you know I am downloading Lost...)
Lucky... now you gotta visit us in Bend so we can watch it on my big beautiful Mac screen... ;)
Mac
The weather is getting colder... so I am getting hungrier. As the temperatures drop I find that comfort foods are finding their way to the family table with increasing frequency. A family favorite is...
BBQ Chicken Mac
Ingredients
1 t. olive oil
salt & pepper
2 lb. chicken, cut into bite-sized chunks
Bulls-Eye BBQ sauce
1 pkg Kraft Mac & Cheese
spices (to taste... see below)
Add oil, chicken, salt & pepper, and spices (if desired) to large skillet. Brown chicken over medium-high heat. Lower heat and add about 1/4 c. BBQ sauce and about 2 tablespons of water to the skillet. Mix gently to thin the sauce and coat the chicken. Cover and simmer.
Prepare Mac & Cheese according to package directions. Add chicken and a few tablespoons of the pan sauce to the Mac & Cheese. Mix to coat with sauce, and serve.
Variations
Add seasonings to your skillet, to bring out different flavors. Try some of the following:
pressed garlic & italian seasoning
red chili flakes
orange zest & a spash of balsamic vinegar
lemon zest
curry powder
cocoa & paprika
BBQ Chicken Mac
Ingredients
1 t. olive oil
salt & pepper
2 lb. chicken, cut into bite-sized chunks
Bulls-Eye BBQ sauce
1 pkg Kraft Mac & Cheese
spices (to taste... see below)
Add oil, chicken, salt & pepper, and spices (if desired) to large skillet. Brown chicken over medium-high heat. Lower heat and add about 1/4 c. BBQ sauce and about 2 tablespons of water to the skillet. Mix gently to thin the sauce and coat the chicken. Cover and simmer.
Prepare Mac & Cheese according to package directions. Add chicken and a few tablespoons of the pan sauce to the Mac & Cheese. Mix to coat with sauce, and serve.
Variations
Add seasonings to your skillet, to bring out different flavors. Try some of the following:
pressed garlic & italian seasoning
red chili flakes
orange zest & a spash of balsamic vinegar
lemon zest
curry powder
cocoa & paprika
Monday, September 18
Fore
Scott is a golfer. He would play a round of golf every day - maybe even two - if he had the time and the money. He plays well, too. He has a respectable handicap and everything. In a nutshell... Scott loves golf.
I play golf... mostly because that means I get to spend time with Scott. I am not very good at it. In fact, putting the words "good" and "golf" in the same sentence really isn't appropriate - I suck. But since I don't keep score that doesn't really matter to me. My favorite things about playing golf (other than spending time with Scott) are:
1. Driving the cart.
2. Drinking beverages from the beverage cart. In fact, I have found that the proper air-to-alcohol ratio has a positive effect on my golf game. (But it has the opposite effect on my cart-driving abilities.)
Anyhoo... we played a round with some friends this weekend out at Crooked River Ranch, which is about 30 minutes North of Bend. It was fun to hang out - the guys are both pretty good, so we girls just hung back, scooped up our sorry drives and played "best ball". The weather was cooperative and I think everyone had a good time.
I almost made par for the first time - twice. Under my own golfing power. It felt pretty good! (They were both short par 3's... but hey I will take what I can get!)
I play golf... mostly because that means I get to spend time with Scott. I am not very good at it. In fact, putting the words "good" and "golf" in the same sentence really isn't appropriate - I suck. But since I don't keep score that doesn't really matter to me. My favorite things about playing golf (other than spending time with Scott) are:
1. Driving the cart.
2. Drinking beverages from the beverage cart. In fact, I have found that the proper air-to-alcohol ratio has a positive effect on my golf game. (But it has the opposite effect on my cart-driving abilities.)
Anyhoo... we played a round with some friends this weekend out at Crooked River Ranch, which is about 30 minutes North of Bend. It was fun to hang out - the guys are both pretty good, so we girls just hung back, scooped up our sorry drives and played "best ball". The weather was cooperative and I think everyone had a good time.
I almost made par for the first time - twice. Under my own golfing power. It felt pretty good! (They were both short par 3's... but hey I will take what I can get!)
Learnt
LIFE LESSON: Never turn down free tickets to ANYTHING (except maybe Lord of the Dance). It's easier to give them back, with regrets, then to go back and find they have been given to someone else.
Case in point: Scott was offered a chance for us to attend the UO/OU game in Eugene. For free. But he turned them down because he wasn't sure if I would want to go. NO, I am not a football fan. I didn't even watch the game on TV. (And what a game it was!) But STILL... I have never been to a Ducks game, and would have enjoyed people watching at the very least. (The tickets were on the Sooner side.)
So instead... we golfed with friends. Which was fun but... not a Ducks game.
Case in point: Scott was offered a chance for us to attend the UO/OU game in Eugene. For free. But he turned them down because he wasn't sure if I would want to go. NO, I am not a football fan. I didn't even watch the game on TV. (And what a game it was!) But STILL... I have never been to a Ducks game, and would have enjoyed people watching at the very least. (The tickets were on the Sooner side.)
So instead... we golfed with friends. Which was fun but... not a Ducks game.
Friday, September 15
Miserlou
This must be our summer of great music...
Scott and I went to the Dick Dale show at the Domino Room in Bend last night. I think this was one of the most energetic and exciting concerts I have ever attended. My ears are still ringing - in a good way!
Even if you haven't heard of Dick Dale, you have probably heard his music.
* The opening track of Pulp Fiction... "Miserlou", by Dick Dale
* That cool new track from the Black Eyed Peas... sampled Dick Dale riffs
* The music blasting through the speakers as you ride Space Mountain at Disneyland... also by Dick Dale
* The surf guitar themes featured in the Annette & Frankie movies... yes those were also by Dick Dale
Yeup, the man has been around for a long, LONG time. But his talent has not faded over time - I suspect the music keeps him young at heart!
And what is up with "House of the Rising Sun" this summer? This is the third concert where we have heard it performed. All of the renditions have varied slightly... but it's still interesting that it's being replayed so frequently. Maybe it has something to do with Hurricane Katrina?
Scott and I went to the Dick Dale show at the Domino Room in Bend last night. I think this was one of the most energetic and exciting concerts I have ever attended. My ears are still ringing - in a good way!
Even if you haven't heard of Dick Dale, you have probably heard his music.
* The opening track of Pulp Fiction... "Miserlou", by Dick Dale
* That cool new track from the Black Eyed Peas... sampled Dick Dale riffs
* The music blasting through the speakers as you ride Space Mountain at Disneyland... also by Dick Dale
* The surf guitar themes featured in the Annette & Frankie movies... yes those were also by Dick Dale
Yeup, the man has been around for a long, LONG time. But his talent has not faded over time - I suspect the music keeps him young at heart!
And what is up with "House of the Rising Sun" this summer? This is the third concert where we have heard it performed. All of the renditions have varied slightly... but it's still interesting that it's being replayed so frequently. Maybe it has something to do with Hurricane Katrina?
Thursday, September 14
Meatloaf
I never liked meatloaf. My dad apparently made the best meatloaf ever... but I just couldn't abide the stuff.
Until I met...
Three Ingredient Meatloaf
Ingredients
2 lb. ground beef (or ground elk, if you are feeling adventurous!)
1 can evaporated milk
2 envelopes Lipton Onion Soup mix
Combine all ingredients. Form into one large or two small loaves; place in loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.
This dish goes great with mashed potatoes and lots of gravy. The kids also like to dip theirs in ketchup, BBQ sauce, or Ranch dressing.
Until I met...
Three Ingredient Meatloaf
Ingredients
2 lb. ground beef (or ground elk, if you are feeling adventurous!)
1 can evaporated milk
2 envelopes Lipton Onion Soup mix
Combine all ingredients. Form into one large or two small loaves; place in loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.
This dish goes great with mashed potatoes and lots of gravy. The kids also like to dip theirs in ketchup, BBQ sauce, or Ranch dressing.
Wednesday, September 13
Flex-y
Geek post ahead... you have been warned.
Flex is an IDE for creating rich Internet applications to be published in Flash format. (See, I warned you!) For examples of RIA's built using Flex click here, here, or here. The team I work with has been dabbling with this fairly new language, and I have just started learning to tie an application to a database back-end, using ColdFusion.
The problem is that while there is a lot of documentation about this process on Adobe's website, you really have to know what you are looking for. And since Flex 2 is pretty new there aren't many 3rd party books or other information available yet. While there are some good-looking tutorials for "your first Coldfusion-powered Flex app" - they all assume that you already have your Coldfusion server configured to work with Flex, and that you have your Flex IDE already configured to work with your Coldfusion server.
So the team I work with began the long process of trying to get everything to "talk". Here's the process we eventually nailed down - hopefully this is useful and helpful to someone out there in cyberspace.
This is really long, so click here for the entire post.
Part 1: The Server
I assume you already have a Coldfusion server. If you don't, then you can download a trial version here. (Note: There are many resources for setting up and configuring your server to communicate with your web server and database server on the Adobe website. The purpose of this post is to guide those already familiar with Coldfusion who want to try Flex.)
Install the Coldfusion 7 Updater 2. (Download here)
Confirm that RDS is enabled on your Coldfusion server. (More information here and here if you didn't enable RDS when you installed Coldfusion.)
Make sure that the system where you will be developing has access to the Flex root on your Coldfusion server (usually /wwwroot/WEB-INF/flex).
Part 2: The Developer Environment
Install Flex Builder 2 on a PC (the Mac version is due out... well hopefully soon!). You can download the trial version for the PC here.
Install the Coldfusion Extensions for Flex Builder 2. The installation files are normally copied to your hard drive when you setup Flex on your system in "C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp\ColdFusion Extensions for Flex Builder" or you can download the installer here.
Follow the steps here to configure the RDS connection between Flex Builder and your Coldfusion server.
Now you should be ready to try this tutorial. For more formal training I recommend this DVD or attend the Adobe MAX conference in October.
Good luck and enjoy!
Flex is an IDE for creating rich Internet applications to be published in Flash format. (See, I warned you!) For examples of RIA's built using Flex click here, here, or here. The team I work with has been dabbling with this fairly new language, and I have just started learning to tie an application to a database back-end, using ColdFusion.
The problem is that while there is a lot of documentation about this process on Adobe's website, you really have to know what you are looking for. And since Flex 2 is pretty new there aren't many 3rd party books or other information available yet. While there are some good-looking tutorials for "your first Coldfusion-powered Flex app" - they all assume that you already have your Coldfusion server configured to work with Flex, and that you have your Flex IDE already configured to work with your Coldfusion server.
So the team I work with began the long process of trying to get everything to "talk". Here's the process we eventually nailed down - hopefully this is useful and helpful to someone out there in cyberspace.
I assume you already have a Coldfusion server. If you don't, then you can download a trial version here. (Note: There are many resources for setting up and configuring your server to communicate with your web server and database server on the Adobe website. The purpose of this post is to guide those already familiar with Coldfusion who want to try Flex.)
Install the Coldfusion 7 Updater 2. (Download here)
Confirm that RDS is enabled on your Coldfusion server. (More information here and here if you didn't enable RDS when you installed Coldfusion.)
Make sure that the system where you will be developing has access to the Flex root on your Coldfusion server (usually /wwwroot/WEB-INF/flex).
Part 2: The Developer Environment
Install Flex Builder 2 on a PC (the Mac version is due out... well hopefully soon!). You can download the trial version for the PC here.
Install the Coldfusion Extensions for Flex Builder 2. The installation files are normally copied to your hard drive when you setup Flex on your system in "C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp\ColdFusion Extensions for Flex Builder" or you can download the installer here.
Follow the steps here to configure the RDS connection between Flex Builder and your Coldfusion server.
Now you should be ready to try this tutorial. For more formal training I recommend this DVD or attend the Adobe MAX conference in October.
Good luck and enjoy!
Monday, September 11
Falling
I am a klutz.
When we were in Jacksonville, going for a walk... I fell. Unfortunately it was down a slight hill, covered in gravel. I had to grab Scott's leg to keep from falling further. In the process of sliding through the gravel... I banged up my elbow and my knee on one side. I had only had one drink so I didn't think alcohol was to blame. Scott didn't believe me.
So I had to go and prove it.
By falling off our back deck.
Now... you have to keep in mind that the decks are not technically finished yet. There are no steps down the side I was on, so most of the time I just hop off. (We're only talking about 2 feet down, max.) But since my knee was still a little sore, I thought I would hop from the deck, to the lava rock pile that runs behind the deck, and then down to the ground.
Instead of landing on a solid rock... the one I picked shifted. And down I went, taking the rock with me. The result? A 3-inch oozy scratch down my inner thigh, just above the knee. And some really pretty bruises all the way from mid-thigh to mid-calf. Apparently I my scream as I went down really freaked out the neighbors, too... and Scott came running to see what happened. Someone was nice enough to point out that the colors of the bruise match my favorite tie-dyed shirt. Isn't that special?
I accomplished this feat with no alcohol involved.
Therefore, I am a klutz.
When we were in Jacksonville, going for a walk... I fell. Unfortunately it was down a slight hill, covered in gravel. I had to grab Scott's leg to keep from falling further. In the process of sliding through the gravel... I banged up my elbow and my knee on one side. I had only had one drink so I didn't think alcohol was to blame. Scott didn't believe me.
So I had to go and prove it.
By falling off our back deck.
Now... you have to keep in mind that the decks are not technically finished yet. There are no steps down the side I was on, so most of the time I just hop off. (We're only talking about 2 feet down, max.) But since my knee was still a little sore, I thought I would hop from the deck, to the lava rock pile that runs behind the deck, and then down to the ground.
Instead of landing on a solid rock... the one I picked shifted. And down I went, taking the rock with me. The result? A 3-inch oozy scratch down my inner thigh, just above the knee. And some really pretty bruises all the way from mid-thigh to mid-calf. Apparently I my scream as I went down really freaked out the neighbors, too... and Scott came running to see what happened. Someone was nice enough to point out that the colors of the bruise match my favorite tie-dyed shirt. Isn't that special?
I accomplished this feat with no alcohol involved.
Therefore, I am a klutz.
Friday, September 8
Usergroup
Wednesday, October 11 - 6:00pm
Programmers, SEO-er's, Web developers & designers in Central Oregon... This is an opportunity to network and share ideas with others in your field! This kick-off meeting is intended as a meet-and-greet, and to find out what topics are of interest to attendees in Central Oregon.
The meeting will be held at Edge Wireless Corporate Headquarters, 650 SW Columbia Street (Directions / map). Pizza and sodas will be provided.
Please RSVP by posting a comment, or email me directly (jenblackledge -at- gmail -dot- com).
Thursday, September 7
Montage
A few weeks ago I was in Portland for a meeting, and I traveled with a friend. We also met up with a friend of his afterwards, and we all went to Bistro Montage on the East side.
In a word... fabulous. It was the type of group where everyone shares bits and bites of their food. The menu has a great variety, focusing on Cajun/Bayou fare. They serve everything from frog legs and alligator to linguinis and jambalaya.
Initially I was disappointed because they were out of oyster shooters. (Yes, they are THAT popular and apparently are THAT good.) Others in our dining party tried the mussel shooter offered by our server as a substitute. (I declined.) I was very happy with my (very spicy) Bloody Mary. The drink by itself was a meal, and just about anything that could be stuck on a toothpick was in my glass. Including three HUGE and tasty olives. Now that's the way to kick off dinner.
Montage offers several varieties of Mac & Cheese. I was tempted to try the Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Mac... but then I saw they offered Crawfish Etoufee and there was no going back from there. It was a great choice! The crawfish were a fair size and very flavorful. The rice and sauce and vegies were all delicious. The cornbread was rich and slightly sweet. It was a very filling dish, so I had some leftovers. Our server kindly wrapped the extra in a tinfoil creation that was shaped like a cat. (And yes, boys and girls, there were pussy jokes galore on the way back to the car.)
I also sampled the catfish which was very good. The mint juleps are the closest to authentic I have tasted this side of the Mississippi. And finally I had one...
delectable...
bite...
of...
Gooey Butter Cake
That bite alone made Bistro Montage worth the trip, and the price of admission so to speak. It was to die for. I don't care what kind of dessert person you are... you must try the Gooey Butter Cake. It's gooey, it's buttery, it's cake... and it's soooo good.
In a word... fabulous. It was the type of group where everyone shares bits and bites of their food. The menu has a great variety, focusing on Cajun/Bayou fare. They serve everything from frog legs and alligator to linguinis and jambalaya.
Initially I was disappointed because they were out of oyster shooters. (Yes, they are THAT popular and apparently are THAT good.) Others in our dining party tried the mussel shooter offered by our server as a substitute. (I declined.) I was very happy with my (very spicy) Bloody Mary. The drink by itself was a meal, and just about anything that could be stuck on a toothpick was in my glass. Including three HUGE and tasty olives. Now that's the way to kick off dinner.
Montage offers several varieties of Mac & Cheese. I was tempted to try the Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Mac... but then I saw they offered Crawfish Etoufee and there was no going back from there. It was a great choice! The crawfish were a fair size and very flavorful. The rice and sauce and vegies were all delicious. The cornbread was rich and slightly sweet. It was a very filling dish, so I had some leftovers. Our server kindly wrapped the extra in a tinfoil creation that was shaped like a cat. (And yes, boys and girls, there were pussy jokes galore on the way back to the car.)
I also sampled the catfish which was very good. The mint juleps are the closest to authentic I have tasted this side of the Mississippi. And finally I had one...
delectable...
bite...
of...
Gooey Butter Cake
That bite alone made Bistro Montage worth the trip, and the price of admission so to speak. It was to die for. I don't care what kind of dessert person you are... you must try the Gooey Butter Cake. It's gooey, it's buttery, it's cake... and it's soooo good.
Tuesday, September 5
Vaca
Scott and I went on a little vacation this weekend. It was his birthday on Thursday, so we drove down to visit family in Klamath Falls.
He played golf with his dad that evening; his mom and I drove their cart and they got 9 holes in. They played another 18 holes on Friday morning. His mom and I went to a quilt shop in Merrill, the "Tater Patch".
Friday afternoon, we headed over to Jacksonville. We aren't really "B&B" people, so we rented a small cottage. It's named "Dawson Cottage" and it's across from the fire station, about a block away from the shopping area. The cottage was wonderful and I would highly recommend it if you are ever traveling to the area. The house has 2 bedrooms, living area, and a small kitchen. It's fairly old and the floor is uneven... so the bathroom is slightly "down the hill". There was a nice area in the back, with adirondack chairs and a table.
On Friday night we had dinner at "The Bella Union". It is a great restaurant with lots of variety. Scott had a pizza (he could live on pizza) and I had lamb. Everything was delicious and the drinks were great. The wait staff is very friendly.
Saturday morning we took my grandfather out to breakfast and visited during the morning. That afternoon we met up with an old childhood friend of Scott's. We checked out the Saturday market and then went back to the cottage since it has A/C and the weather was a "brisk" (ha!) 100+ degrees.
That night we went to the Susan Tedeschi and Subdudes concert at the Britt Pavilion. It was such a good show. We talked to a lot of people who have "done" Britt before our trip, and decided to get a line-sitter. That was a very good decision as we were able to get a spot in the lawn below the reserved seats, very close to the stage.
The 'dudes rocked - they are a zydeco-style band from New Orleans. A couple of songs are getting radio play now - "Papa Dukie and the Mud People" and "Social Aid & Pleasure Club". It's a really fun group and the crowd was really with them. I wore my tie-dyed tank top and got a nod from the group for doing so.
Susan Tedeschi is a blues singer and guitarist. She is one of Scott's favorite singers so there was no way we were going to miss her show! She is an amazing musician and we really enjoyed her act.
On Sunday morning Scott decided to play golf with his childhood friend's hubby, so I returned to visit my grandfather some more! He is a great storyteller. His memory is still very good and it's interesting to hear him talk about his experiences. Grandpa was in the navy during WWII. He was stationed on the "Balch", which was the flagship for "Enterprise" during that time. It was really nice to be able to spend more time with him, as he has been pretty lonely since my Grandma passed in January.
Sunday afternoon we headed home via Eugene, so we could stop and have dinner with Scott's older (20-year old) daughter. Yeup he is one old dude. ;) It was nice to see her; we also met her new boyfriend and he seems like a good guy.
Sunday night we finally got home. We had hoped to make it in time for AFI but were too late. (Too bad, sounds like it was an excellent show.) Monday was lazy in the morning, then we finished prepping the house for the painters (exterior). Woo-hoo they are starting today!
So... a very good weekend, and what I needed to get my mind off Boo's stuff for a few days and a bit of calm before the storm. We really needed the time away from Bend, and it was perfect!
He played golf with his dad that evening; his mom and I drove their cart and they got 9 holes in. They played another 18 holes on Friday morning. His mom and I went to a quilt shop in Merrill, the "Tater Patch".
Friday afternoon, we headed over to Jacksonville. We aren't really "B&B" people, so we rented a small cottage. It's named "Dawson Cottage" and it's across from the fire station, about a block away from the shopping area. The cottage was wonderful and I would highly recommend it if you are ever traveling to the area. The house has 2 bedrooms, living area, and a small kitchen. It's fairly old and the floor is uneven... so the bathroom is slightly "down the hill". There was a nice area in the back, with adirondack chairs and a table.
On Friday night we had dinner at "The Bella Union". It is a great restaurant with lots of variety. Scott had a pizza (he could live on pizza) and I had lamb. Everything was delicious and the drinks were great. The wait staff is very friendly.
Saturday morning we took my grandfather out to breakfast and visited during the morning. That afternoon we met up with an old childhood friend of Scott's. We checked out the Saturday market and then went back to the cottage since it has A/C and the weather was a "brisk" (ha!) 100+ degrees.
That night we went to the Susan Tedeschi and Subdudes concert at the Britt Pavilion. It was such a good show. We talked to a lot of people who have "done" Britt before our trip, and decided to get a line-sitter. That was a very good decision as we were able to get a spot in the lawn below the reserved seats, very close to the stage.
The 'dudes rocked - they are a zydeco-style band from New Orleans. A couple of songs are getting radio play now - "Papa Dukie and the Mud People" and "Social Aid & Pleasure Club". It's a really fun group and the crowd was really with them. I wore my tie-dyed tank top and got a nod from the group for doing so.
Susan Tedeschi is a blues singer and guitarist. She is one of Scott's favorite singers so there was no way we were going to miss her show! She is an amazing musician and we really enjoyed her act.
On Sunday morning Scott decided to play golf with his childhood friend's hubby, so I returned to visit my grandfather some more! He is a great storyteller. His memory is still very good and it's interesting to hear him talk about his experiences. Grandpa was in the navy during WWII. He was stationed on the "Balch", which was the flagship for "Enterprise" during that time. It was really nice to be able to spend more time with him, as he has been pretty lonely since my Grandma passed in January.
Sunday afternoon we headed home via Eugene, so we could stop and have dinner with Scott's older (20-year old) daughter. Yeup he is one old dude. ;) It was nice to see her; we also met her new boyfriend and he seems like a good guy.
Sunday night we finally got home. We had hoped to make it in time for AFI but were too late. (Too bad, sounds like it was an excellent show.) Monday was lazy in the morning, then we finished prepping the house for the painters (exterior). Woo-hoo they are starting today!
So... a very good weekend, and what I needed to get my mind off Boo's stuff for a few days and a bit of calm before the storm. We really needed the time away from Bend, and it was perfect!
Boo
What a first day of school... we will never forget this one I bet!
A few weeks ago Boo complained that her jaw was sore. It was swollen with a lump, so off to the doctor she went. They thought she might have an infection in her salivary gland, and prescribed antibiotics which seemed to help. Then last week it came back. This time the doc gave her more antibiotics but also ordered an ultrasound. This revealed a "cystic nodule" on her salivary gland... so she was referred to an ear, nose & throat specialist and surgeon (ENT). That appt was today - the first day of school.
Took her to school this morning so she could get "moved in" and acquainted. Then off to the doctor we went. He took a look at the tests and looked at her, and has recommended that the lump be removed since it (a) shouldn't be there to begin with and (b) is causing her discomfort. (It's a good sized lump - you can see it pretty clearly even though the swelling is down again.) BUT - because of the location of the cyst and her age he wants her to see a pediatric ENT surgeon.... in Portland. They will also be testing the cyst after it comes out to make sure no additional treatment is needed.
So... now we are waiting to hear back from the next doctor. Boo is such a cool little cucumber, she is just bopping from place to place, always with a smile on her face. She got to ride on a pretty cool chair at the ENT in Bend, and initially was to have a CT today but was cancelled because the doc in Portland wants to take a look at her first. She was a little bummed about that because we were getting a "tour" of the machine when the doc called to cancel and she was very excited for her "ride".
Now she is back to school for the rest of the day.
So folks... please keep Boo in your thoughts!!! We appreciate your positive thoughts and hope sent our direction as this apparently is a pretty complicated procedure.
Update: We just found out her appointment will be Sept 21. She sees the doctor at Doernbecher first, then will go over to OHSU for an MRI.
A few weeks ago Boo complained that her jaw was sore. It was swollen with a lump, so off to the doctor she went. They thought she might have an infection in her salivary gland, and prescribed antibiotics which seemed to help. Then last week it came back. This time the doc gave her more antibiotics but also ordered an ultrasound. This revealed a "cystic nodule" on her salivary gland... so she was referred to an ear, nose & throat specialist and surgeon (ENT). That appt was today - the first day of school.
Took her to school this morning so she could get "moved in" and acquainted. Then off to the doctor we went. He took a look at the tests and looked at her, and has recommended that the lump be removed since it (a) shouldn't be there to begin with and (b) is causing her discomfort. (It's a good sized lump - you can see it pretty clearly even though the swelling is down again.) BUT - because of the location of the cyst and her age he wants her to see a pediatric ENT surgeon.... in Portland. They will also be testing the cyst after it comes out to make sure no additional treatment is needed.
So... now we are waiting to hear back from the next doctor. Boo is such a cool little cucumber, she is just bopping from place to place, always with a smile on her face. She got to ride on a pretty cool chair at the ENT in Bend, and initially was to have a CT today but was cancelled because the doc in Portland wants to take a look at her first. She was a little bummed about that because we were getting a "tour" of the machine when the doc called to cancel and she was very excited for her "ride".
Now she is back to school for the rest of the day.
So folks... please keep Boo in your thoughts!!! We appreciate your positive thoughts and hope sent our direction as this apparently is a pretty complicated procedure.
Update: We just found out her appointment will be Sept 21. She sees the doctor at Doernbecher first, then will go over to OHSU for an MRI.
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